Celebrating Grianstad an Gheimhridh (The Winter Solstice)

Winter Solstice Sunrise, Ireland, Sandymount Strand, 2008

While it is uncertain whether or not the ancient Gaels celebrated the darkest night of the year (Grianstad an Gheimhridh or Meán Geimhridh as it's known in Gaeilge [Irish] today), a number of modern Gaelic Polytheists, including myself, do indeed mark this solar event. As the winter was an extremely hard time for the ancient Gaels and travel would have been short (if any took place at all), the likelihood of a grand celebration on the scale seen at Samhain looks very slim. However, some of us believe that if the Midwinter was indeed observed it would have taken the form of small, intimate, familial celebrations. This sets the stage for how most observe the day.

Family/community is the foundation of Gaelic Polytheism and so gathering together with loved ones (of choice or relation) during the dark, cold months of the year is truly something special that some feel should be commemorated. Many Gaelic Polytheists celebrate by welcoming the sunrise whilst repeating prayers from Carmina Gadelica (#316, "Hail to thee, thou sun of the seasons" being a favorite of most) and turning their thoughts to Brú na Bóinne, or Newgrange, since the tomb is illuminated by the solstice sunrise through the roof box. Others might even have all-night vigils, using the long darkness of the night for meditation, contemplation, and devotion — huddling together with family and friends to celebrate the sun when it rises.

While Brú na Bóinne is definitely a pre-Celtic passage tomb, the fact that it has myths attributed to it shows that the Gaels respected it and even possibly had rites honouring it. While we will probably never know this for certain, Midwinter is indeed an astronomical event marked by many Gaelic Polytheists today. 

The Meaning of Ritual

Have you ever come across a quote that succinctly expresses what it is you've been trying and trying to say but with no avail? That happened to me recently when I came across one by Chinese philosopher, Xunzi, on his thoughts about ritual. While Xunzi was a Confucian I still feel that his 3-part quote transverses cultures, and its origins matter little compared to the message it contains. Either way, it got me to thinking which is always a good thing. Especially since the blog hath been dryeth due to busyness.

The usual disclaimer applies: all you see below is my opinion and my opinion only. I am not speaking for other Gaelic Polytheists or Celtic Reconstructionists.

“The meaning of ritual is deep indeed. He who tries to enter it with the kind of perception that distinguishes hard and white, same and different, will drown there.”

Ritual is ultimately a mystery. We can try all we might to classify it into formulas or categories but if we give too much into the temptation to do such (until we reach a point of overthinking everything we do), we then lose sight of what ritual is truly for – creating bonds, conveying beliefs, commemorating life moments, and expressing devotion – and we drown.

The religiosity of Gaelic Polytheism is not defined by a system of beliefs (though shared belief does have a place); rather it is a collection of rites, rituals and observances. This is what makes Gaelic Polytheism orthopraxic rather than orthodoxic. While belief is important, what is even more important is what we do and how we do it.